Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-04-06
SHE SAVED THE SHIP.
How the Captains Wife Quelled
a Dangerous Mutipy.


York, bound for Montevidco, she had
in part ''shanghaied" crew; that is.
men who had been made drunk and
brought on board, without their knowl-
edge or consent, just before sailing.
Seamen were scarce in New York at
the time, so the shipping agent had re-
sorted to that method to furnish the
vessel her complement of men. While
she was being towed through the Mar
rows, the officers went forward and
reused up the drunken, half-stupefied
men in the forecastle. The latter were
Misunderstanding set of men, and,
TO the surprise of the mates, only few
were found to be scamcn, the rest be-
ing roughs or longshoremen. They
lurchcd about the deck, quarrclng
and threatening violence if the ship
was not put back.
Captain White saw he had been de-
ccived by the shipping agent, and 60
ing forward, ascertained that none of
the crew had families or any re-
sponsible occupation. He told them
they would have to make the best of
the situation, as he must proceed on
his voyage. 1t was the result of their
own folly that they were on board. At
this they refused point-blank to work
the ship. However, none of them
dared look into the muzzle of the cap
tain's revolver, so the boatswain and
second mate, with many kicks and
blows, at last forced them to make sail,
the three or four sailors going aloft to
loose the canvas, while the new hands
on deck did the hauling.
The first day at sea is always a try
ing one for both officers and men. A
ship just leaving port is in about the
condition of the newly-rented house
on the first of May The mates do not
know what to expect from the crew,
nor do the men know whether their
officers intend to treat them with re-
spect or to bully them. Consequently
each class watch the other with dis
trust. OF course, with the Sunder-
lands crew the day was a continued
wrangle. A part of the men not be-
ing practiccd sailors, they were almost
useless. Towards evening the wind
increased to a gale, and the frightened
landsmen we're driven into the rigging
TO reef topsails. They had to be fol-
lowed aloft, and shown what to do
with the recipients. The position of
a man upon the topsail-yard, trying to
reef heavy sail whipping in the wind,
is not secure, even if he is an old sail
or. These longshoremen found they
wanted both hands to hang on with.
The mates managed to make them
gather in the sail during a steady
spell, but when the ship gave a heavy
lee lurch, and the yard canted up at
q high angle, their feet slipped along
the foot-rope, and. letting 60 the sail,
they all grabbed for the jackstay.
After great deal of exertion, the Off
GERS reefed the fore and main topsails,
with but little help from the seasick
men. The mzzen topsail blew away
before it could be secured.
The ship was heavily loaded, and la
bored badly in the brisk sea, which soon
followed the coming of the gale. The
captain preferred to drive her with sin
gle-reefed topsail, for he knew that IL
he started his halliards the sails would
slat to pieces before his clumsy crew
could smother them. Each heavy gust
pressed the lee rail down into the water.
and the spray few ever the bows in a
continuous shower
The discomfort among the men grew
more violent as darkness increased,
and they began to feel tho agonies Of
sea sickness augmented by wet clothes
and the raw autumnal wind. They
quickly made up their minds to mutiny;
and, while crouched in the lee Of the
deck-house TO escape tho spray, ar
ranged for concerted action at the first
opportunity.
Before long voice was heard call
ing: Stand by the weather main
bracesr'
They went aft TO the braces, and
when the second mate noticed all hands
were there, he advanced to ask why
the watch below were on deck. For
answer he was Knocked down by q
blow from capstan-bar, and quickly
bound, hand and foot, with ropcs-cnds.
They then rushed upon the captain.
who shot the foremost through the
shoulder; but the revolver was Knocked
swV md his throat clutched BY the